NS-2222 - Rezoning Certain Property in the Area of North Harbor Boulevard to the Specific Plan...

Home Browse Search

NORTH HARBOR BOULEVARD SPECiFiC PLAN 17l Moving Traffic Traffic along Harbor Boulevard is unlikely to decrease in the foreseeable future. To restrict such movement would result in a change in traffic patterns that would impact the contiguous residential cornmunitie~, which is not an acceptable solution. Accepting that traffic is to remain, there are two alternative approaches. First, the existing visual intrusion of passing and stationary vehi- cles can be accepted, or an attempt can ~ made by the addition of screening and softening elements associated with the road edge to m:luce the overall visual impact. S~onary Vehicles Stationary vehicles within parking lots end sales lots, or within smaller areas of on-street parking can be con- trolled. The extent of perking areas can be controlled in accordance with design guidelines, and parking lots can be designed to reduce visual intrusion on the sur- rounding area. Much can be done to screen or other- wise reduce the impact of stationary vehicles, whether over extensive areas, or as related to on-street parking. Additionally, the location of parking and sales lots can be controlled. Use of the land for parking could be lim- ited acceptable locations where uses can be better screened. To implement this policy, areas of existing parking or sales would need to be removed or re-sited, which would require strong enforcement policies. New development offers an opportunity to control traf- fic patterns and off-street parking. These issues togeth- er with site and building design will have significant impact on visual quality. Vehide Repair/Servia Further visual issues relate to auto repair, servicing, and the storage of cars. Typically, these uses are associ- ated with built developments, and, therefore~ the issues related to architecturally unattractive buildings gener- ally are relevant. Many of these uses require open paved frontages that are often grey and colorless, and lead to a loss of spacial definition and character. Additionally, these open areas are often cluttered, and have a particular range of problems including the stor- age of car parts, as wellas parked vehicles. As such, this category of vehicular use is not visually positive, and should he screened. A 2.7 RELATED PLANNING POLICIES A number of planning documents other than this spe- cific plan have direct effects on the planning area. These documents are the Santa Aha General Plan, the North Harbor Boulevard Redevelopment Plan, the North Harbor Strategy Plan, and, the North Harbor Neighborhood Plan. A 2.Z1 G,,aeral Plan The City of Santa Ana's General Plan sets forth land use designations and assodated guidelines to direct development that will he appropriate and beneficial for the City. All projects are required to be consistent with the General Plan. This is done to ensure quality devel- opment that is consistent with the goals and objectives of the City General Plan. As Figure Z8 illustrates, the existing General Plan has six designations for the planning area: (1) Low Density Residential, (2) Low-Medium Density Residential, (3) General Business District, (4) Industrial, (5) Open Space, and (6) Institutional. The following discusion will provide details of each of the six General Plan designations. Low Dens/fy Pes/dentkl (IR) Allows single family resi- dential development at a density of up to seven units to the acre. Within the planning area there are four areas designated LR totaling about five acres. These areas vary in size, and are located on the outer edges of the planning area. Lot~Mediurn Density Residential (LMR) This designa- tion allows single family residential development at a density of up to eleven (11) dwelling units to the acre, approximately 28 acres are designated LMR in the General Plan. General Business Distric~ (GBD) The General Business District designation allows for approximately 65 acres of retail, professional, office, churches, and service ori- ented businesses. This designation is intended to include neighborhood types of commercial uses. There are several su~ested kinds of uses included under GB, ranging from hospitals to en~.~rtainment. As (Figure A.8) shows, land with this designation is concentrated on Harbor Boulevard and major cross streets. Industrial. This designation is limited to those busi- nesses that perform heavier types of uses such as man- ufacturing, processing or salvage. The northeastern portion of the planning area is designated for this type of use. This designation is concentrated to the northeastern coruer of the planning area along the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way. 15